St Ffraid's Church

Heritage listing

Reason for designation: A mediaeval church with many interesting sub-mediaeval features well restored in the late C19 by a leading architect. History: The church is mentioned in 1254 as capella de Llansanfrat , and is dedicated to St Ffraid (Bride or Bridget), an Irish saint. The origins of the present building are probably of the C12, as it has a small window apparently of that period in the north wall of the nave near the west end. This, however, is not necessarily in situ, although it does appear to be integral to the masonry immediately surrounding it. A straight joint with quoins in the south wall of the nave and a corresponding offset which formerly existed in the north wall indicate rather that the eastern part of the church predates the western. It appears to have been originally a typical small church consisting of nave and chancel without exterior distinction. Half of a mediaeval piscina survives in the chancel of this original part, an unusual double-bowl type; also a blocked door, the arch of which is only slightly pointed, at the south west of the original nave. It appears then to have been lengthened by the C16. The present main south door in the lengthened part of the church is also within a slightly pointed arch, but its form is lopsided and it has evidently been the subject of unskilled restoration at some early date; in its distorted form it houses a fine sub-mediaeval oak door. From the C17 and following its lengthening the church was under frequent restoration and improvement. The evidence of piecemeal restoration over a long period suggested by the much-patched appearance of the masonry is supported by the dating of a number of the south windows. Two are of Jacobean style, dated 1619; a gallery dormer is dated 1669; other windows are dated 1703 and

From Cadw under OGL v3.